House dissolving before our eyes?
Is tonight Decision Night in the Texas House?
Scores of House members erupted into jeering and angry shouts minutes ago when Speaker Tom Craddick recessed the chamber until 11 p.m., rather than explain his startling statement earlier this evening that he could simply sidestep a brewing revolt against his leadership by refusing to recognize a motion to "vacate the chair."
Mr. Craddick, under questioning from House Democratic Caucus Chair Jim Dunnam, said, "I don't believe there's such a motion in the rules."
That appeared to contradict previous rule interpretations by House parliamentarians, and for close to an hour, the House stood at ease and then Parliamentarian Denise Davis dashed off the House dais, clearly upset. Anti-Craddick members said she would resign over being undercut and humiliated, though Ms. Davis later declined to confirm that is her intent.
When Mr. Craddick swept back into the chamber, around 8:40 p.m., he refused to resume taking questions from his January foe, Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, and promptly shut the chamber down -- seeming to buy time so some of his missing supporters can rush back to the Capitol. One of them supposedly is Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, said to be at his child's high school graduation.
Suffice it to say that tensions are high, rumors are flying, Craddick staffers appear ultra-tense and Capitol security is being beefed up noticeably. It's growing ugly, folks. There could be a decisive vote tonight, and it could be close.